The first week of school I give an overview of the year long course. It
revolves around 3 essential questions:
#1: How do I know WHAT chemical I have?
#2: If I put 2 chemicals together, can I predict how they will change
(what will form?, how much?, how fast?)
#3: Can I control the event? (the what, the how much and the rate)

Unit One: The Basics - Essential Question #1
How do I know WHAT I have?
i.e. physical and chemical properties
How do I know HOW MUCH I have?
i.e. measurment: meniscus, pan balance, significant digits
How do I know WHEN it has changed to something different?
i.e. clues to changes (dissolving does not equal melting, etc)

Unit Two: Basics #1 - more details about identifying WHAT chemical it is.
WHAT kind of substance?
i.e. element, compound, mixture
WHAT kind of particle?
i.e. atom, molecule, sub-atomic particle
WHAT do I call it?
i.e. rules for naming

Unit Three: Basics #2 - more details about HOW MUCH we have
There are 3 ways to measure HOW MUCH:
count particles, measure a volume, measure a mass
They are related by the concept of the MOLE
(here is where we deal with scientific notation)